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bitterly； and surrounded with genii； who never left her night or
day。
This sight only increased the misery of the Prince； for he did
not know where the castle was； nor how to set about finding it。
However； he resolved to seek the whole world through till he came
to the right place。 He began by setting sail in a favourable
wind； but his bad luck followed him even on the sea。 He had
scarcely lost sight of the land when a violent storm arose； and
after several hours of beating about； the vessel was driven on to
some rocks； on which it dashed itself to bits。 The Prince was
fortunate enough to be able to lay hold of a floating spar； and
contrived to keep himself afloat； and； after a long struggle with
the winds and waves； he was cast upon a strange island。 But what
was his surprise； on reaching the shore； to hear sounds of the
most heartrending distress； mingled with the sweetest songs which
had ever charmed him！ His curiosity was instantly roused； and he
advanced cautiously till he saw two huge dragons guarding the
gate of a wood。 They were terrible indeed to look upon。 Their
bodies were covered with glittering scales； their curly tails
extended far over the land； flames darted from their mouths and
noses； and their eyes would have made the bravest shudder； but as
the Prince was invisible and they did not see him； he slipped
past them into the wood。 He found himself at once in a
labyrinth； and wandered about for a long time without meeting
anyone； in fact； the only sight he saw was a circle of human
hands； sticking out of the ground above the wrist； each with a
bracelet of gold； on which a name was written。 The farther he
advanced in the labyrinth the more curious he became； till he was
stopped by two corpses lying in the midst of a cypress alley；
each with a scarlet cord round his neck and a bracelet on his arm
on which were engraved their own names； and those of two
Princesses。
The invisible Prince recognised these dead men as Kings of two
large islands near his own home； but the names of the Princesses
were unknown to him。 He grieved for their unhappy fate； and at
once proceeded to bury them； but no sooner had he laid them in
their graves； than their hands started up through the earth and
remained sticking up like those of their fellows。
The Prince went on his way； thinking about this strange
adventure； when suddenly at the turn of the walk he perceived a
tall man whose face was the picture of misery； holding in his
hands a silken cord of the exact colour of those round the necks
of the dead men。 A few steps further this man came up with
another as miserable to the full as he himself； they silently
embraced； and then without a word passed the cords round their
throats； and fell dead side by side。 In vain the Prince rushed
to their assistance and strove to undo the cord。 He could not
loosen it； so he buried them like the others and continued his
path。
He felt； however； that great prudence was necessary； or he
himself might become the victim of some enchantment； and he was
thankful to slip past the dragons； and enter a beautiful park；
with clear streams and sweet flowers； and a crowd of men and
maidens。 But he could not forget the terrible things he had
seen； and hoped eagerly for a clue to the mystery。 Noticing two
young people talking together； he drew near thinking that he
might get some explanation of what puzzled him。 And so he did。
'You swear；' said the Prince； 'that you will love me till you
die； but I fear your faithless heart； and I feel that I shall
soon have to seek the Fairy Despair； ruler of half this island。
She carries off the lovers who have been cast away by their
mistresses； and wish to have done with life。 She places them in
a labyrinth where they are condemned to walk for ever； with a
bracelet on their arms and a cord round their necks； unless they
meet another as miserable as themselves。 Then the cord is pulled
and they lie where they fall； till they are buried by the first
passer by。 Terrible as this death would be；' added the Prince；
'it would be sweeter than life if I had lost your love。'
The sight of all these happy lovers only made the Prince grieve
the more； and he wandered along the seashore spending his days；
but one day he was sitting on a rock bewailing his fate； and the
impossibility of leaving the island； when all in a moment the sea
appeared to raise itself nearly to the skies； and the caves
echoed with hideous screams。 As he looked a woman rose from the
depths of the sea； flying madly before a furious giant。 The
cries she uttered softened the heart of the Prince； he took the
stone from his mouth； and drawing his sword he rushed after the
giant； so as to give the lady time to escape。 But hardly had he
come within reach of the enemy； than the giant touched him with a
ring that he held in his hand； and the Prince remained immovable
where he stood。 The giant then hastily rejoined his prey； and；
seizing her in his arms； he plunged her into the sea。 Then he
sent some tritons to bind chains about the Prince of the Golden
Isle； and he too felt himself borne to the depths of the ocean；
and without the hope of ever again seeing the Princess。
Now the giant whom the invisible had so rashly attacked was the
Lord of the Sea； and the third son of the Queen of the Elements；
and he had touched the youth with a magic ring which enabled a
mortal to live under water。 So the Prince of the Golden Isle
found； when bound in chains by the tritons； he was carried
through the homes of strange monsters and past immense seaweed
forests； till he reached a vast sandy space； surrounded by huge
rocks。 On the tallest of the rocks sat the giant as on a throne。
'Rash mortal；' said he； when the Prince was dragged before him；
'you have deserved death； but you shall live only to suffer more
cruelly。 Go； and add to the number of those whom it is my
pleasure to torture。'
At these words the unhappy Prince found himself tied to a rock；
but he was not alone in his misfortunes； for all round him were
chained Princes and Princesses； whom the giant had led captive。
Indeed； it was his chief delight to create a storm； in order to
add to the list of his prisoners。
As his hands were fastened； it was impossible for the Prince of
the Golden Isle to make use of his magic stone； and he passed his
nights and days dreaming of Rosalie。 But at last the time came
when the giant took it into his head to amuse himself by
arranging fights between some of his captives。 Lots were drawn；
and one fell upon our Prince； whose chains were immediately
loosened。 The moment he was set free； he snatched up his stone；
and became invisible。
The astonishment of the giant at the sudden disappearance of the
Prince may well be imagined。 He ordered all the passages to be
watched； but it was too late； for the Prince had already glided
between two rocks。 He wandered fo